Protesters take part in a mass sit-in in front of the British Columbia legislature in Victoria, B.C. Monday, Oct. 22, 2012. to protest the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.Jonathan Hayward
/ CP

Protesters take part in a mass sit-in in front of the British Columbia legislature in Victoria, B.C. Monday, Oct. 22, 2012. to protest the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.Jonathan Hayward
/ CP

Protesters take part in a mass sit-in in front of the British Columbia legislature in Victoria, B.C. Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, to protest the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.Jonathan Hayward
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Critics of the Northern Gateway project are hoping at least a thousand people turn up for a big rally today at the B.C. legislature to protest the proposed pipeline.Chris Schwarz/Canwest News Service
/ Chris Schwarz/Canwest News Service

Related

VICTORIA — About 3,500 demonstrators took to the lawn of the B.C. legislature Monday to vehemently oppose two major oil pipelines proposed for the province.

“What are you willing to do to stop them? Are you willing to lay down in front of the bulldozers?” yelled Art Sterritt, executive director of the Coastal First Nations.

“Yes,” called back the crowd.

“Who’s going to change the 26 Conservative MPs in British Columbia if the federal government tries to jam this thing through?” he continued.

“We will,” came the response.

Organized by a coalition of groups, the Defend our Coast demonstration heard from nearly two dozen speakers. All urged Premier Christy Clark and Prime Minister Stephen Harper not to allow either the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline that would carry bitumen from Alberta to Kitimat, or the planned twinning of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline that already carries Alberta oil to Burnaby.

Clark has laid out five conditions that need to be met before any heavy oil pipeline can proceed in B.C., which include: completion of the formal environmental review processes; world-leading marine and land oil spill response and prevention; and British Columbia receiving a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits.

New Democratic Party leader Adrian Dix has spoken against Enbridge, and said that if he wins the next election, his government will withdraw from the current environmental assessment of the Northern Gateway project and set up a “made-in-B.C.” review instead.

Dix has so far taken no formal position on Kinder Morgan, which has not yet submitted a finalized proposal for the twinning.

Harper said over the summer in Vancouver that while he believes it’s “vital” for B.C. and the country to get oil to the west coast, the final decision on the Enbridge project will be determined by science, not politics.

“The government obviously wants to see British Columbia’s export trade continue to grow and diversify, that’s important,” he said at the time.

“But projects have to be evaluated on their own merits.”

Not good enough, those in Victoria said Monday.

“Our government is not standing behind us — the people that are here — that are saying ‘no more,’” said Chief Ruben George of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation.

“Let’s hold our government accountable. Let’s send a message to them that we have to make a difference.

“We’re going to stand together and yes, we are going to win.”

Demonstrators erected a 235-metre black banner — the length of the Aframax tankers that are transporting Kinder Morgan crude oil through Burrard Inlet and Georgia Strait — around the lawn of the legislature and stretched it across neighbouring Belleville Street.

Since legislature guidelines say “objects, such as signs, posters or banners, may not be attached to the grounds, buildings, trees or other property,” demonstrators considered the erection of the banner an act of civil disobedience and said they were willing to be arrested.

“We’re showing the gravity of the situation,” said demonstrator Leif Early of Duncan.

“There is no way a pipeline is worth the risk, both for our coast and our ecosystem, as well as the global issue. Putting a pipeline through just makes us even more addicted (to) the dirtiest oil in the world.”

Said Leah Norwood of Qualicum Beach: “How can we call ourselves beautiful British Columbia if we’ve got this disgusting pipeline running through our forest and destroying our coast?”

“If I get arrested, then so be it. It’s for a good cause.”

But Const. Mike Russell of the Victoria Police Department said: “We’ve been happy to facilitate what’s been a very peaceful protest today,” adding there were no incidents or arrests.

He said police were willing to allow the giant banner — even across a street — for the duration of the event.

“[There’s] nothing I can think of in the Criminal Code that would say it’s illegal to put a stake in a lawn,” he said.

“We know it’s not going to be there forever and a lot of people are really happy to hear that people are standing up and having their voices heard.”

Dave Coles, national president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, called the pipelines “job killers” that are bad for the environment, don’t respect First Nations rights and are destroying Canada’s economy.

“Our union represents refinery workers across this country, our union represents workers in the tar sands and our union is diametrically opposed to building the pipelines.”

Maude Barlow, chair of the Council of Canadians, said the pipelines will only lead to the expansion of the Alberta oilsands. “Pipelines are the bloodlines of the tar sands. If we allow these pipeline to go ahead, it’s going to mean that the industry is setting energy policy in Canada,” she said.

“These pipelines mean that you’ll need to keep them full and that means a massive expansion of the tar sands and that means that we will never be able to get the alternative energy future we need.”

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

A Radio-Canada reporter has been arrested for alleged criminal harassment while pursuing the subject of a story. According to Radio-Canada, reporter Antoine Trépanier was arrested Tuesday night by Gatineau police. He was released on a promise to appear in court. Trépanier was called by Gatineau police Tuesday evening and an officer requested that he come […]

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.